Awards & Prizes

Teams entering the Cast Iron Cook-Off® compete for a number of awards. In addition to the Overall Grand Champion, chefs vie for Best Overall Menu, Best Use of Appalachian Protein, Best Use of Appalachian Value-Added Products, Best Use of Cast Iron, and many other honors.

Greenbrier Resort, the venue for the Cook-Off, has twice fielded a Grand Champion team under the leadership of Chef Bryan Skelding. Among his top-prize menu items are cast iron kettle chili using Morlunda Farm’s beef, Greenbrier County ramp spoonbread, sauteed Indian Creek rainbow trout, “old school” vanilla bean waffle, and Richter’s maple cream.

Each year the awards ceremony also includes presentation of the Pioneer Award, given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of tourism for the state. Former first lady Gayle Manchin and former governor Gaston Caperton are among the past recipients.